SATURDAY

Did a color wash early on, then hopped in the shower before breakfast. Later, I called Muckie and later still, my cousin, Sally. The news from both was mixed, but it was fun to chat.

Stella texted to ask if we were meeting at noon or 1:00; I told her we had said noon, but either was fine with me, and we decided on 1:00. I took my cart and set off at about 11:45. Trader Joe's is in the same complex, as Spring Garden Chinese, so I stopped there for mandarin oranges.

I hadn't seen Stella for several months and I was a little alarmed at her appearance. She was nicely dressed and groomed, as always, but it looked to me as if she's lost a considerable amount of weight. Anyway, we ordered and I had a Sapporo with mine, the Japanese beer I used to order at Jasmine Thai.  Stella, as always, had plenty of pictures on her phone. These were mostly of her son, Joshua, who is a dancer and Yoga instructor and lives in Spain with his girlfriend. I've met him and he sent me a "hello message." 

After we ate, Stella asked if I wanted to go with her to midtown to see some townhouses. She had a large house on a big property in Oakview and I've often wondered why she would want to be saddled with that much responsibility at 85. Well, she doesn't now, so we went to look at some new homes. They were very nice--and, of course, very pricy--but all were either two-or three-stories. Good grief, the rooms have very high ceilings, which means the stairs are very high. I took some pictures of the lower-level of the two-bedroom, just to liven up this entry:  

Anyway, we toured the different ones and enjoyed it. However, if Stella ever does decide to move, she'll have to sell her present house, so it won't be anytime soon. She dropped me off at the transit center and I bused home. 

Mike, just back from China, Facetimed me after dinner and I was pleased to hear that he and Vivian will come for Thanksgiving. Great, they can see Ellen's new place and, I assume, stay there. He's also going to London next month and Vivian will meet him there, stay for several days, then fly back to college in Hawaii.  Violet  will go on a school trip to Thailand shortly, then to Savannah for her "Rising Star" session at the College of Art and Design. As I've mentioned before, when I was their ages, I was lucky to get to Philly. 😜But hey, I'm thrilled and overjoyed my granddaughters are having such experiences.